Commentary: Violence has no place on the football pitch in Singapore

SINGAPORE: On Jul 15, two men invaded the pitch at the National Stadium after Liverpool had played Crystal Palace.

Just over a week later there was an altercation at the end of a Singapore Premier League game between Lion City Sailors head coach Kim Do-hoon and Tampines Rovers assistant coach Mustafic Fahrudin in which Kim appeared to headbutt his rival.

Lion City Sailors CEO Chew Chun-Liang said the scenes were "unsavoury”. The club announced on Thursday (Aug 11) that Kim had left his role as Lion City Sailors head coach after a mutual agreement to part ways.

Taken in isolation, neither incident looks especially serious when compared to what can happen in Europe. That is where football hooliganism had its dark days, such as the 70s and 80s when thuggish behaviour and even rioting took place, and where it is observed up until today, when fans hurl racist slurs at players of opposing teams.

While passion for the game and one’s team is admirable, any form of violence cannot be condoned as they risk emboldening others to do the same.

At the end of last season in England, there was a series of pitch invasions, with opposing players and coaches coming to blows in some cases.

A Nottingham Forest fan ran on to the pitch and headbutted assistant manager of Sheffield United Billy Sharp. Fans of Manchester City attacked Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen while celebrating their English Premier League win. Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira got into an altercation with an Everton fan who invaded the pitch at full-time.

Pitch invasions are a criminal offence in the UK. Even if fans enter the pitch not intending to cause harm, they can inspire other rowdier fans to join in. A peaceful situation can escalate into conflict.

Besides disruption